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hovering bird of prey, Portugal (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter marnixR
- Start date
Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
The contrast shown on this photo with white vent and dark belly seems to exclude STE and better for Common Buzzard indeed.
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
Cheeky boy....:t:
PYRTLE
Old Berkshire Boy
Still not sure about yesterday's photos of B.B.A. and seen by a plethora of experienced birders at 4 different locations as it was tracked North. Personally could see bits of both in the photos on twittersphere.
Happy days A.
dantheman
Bah humbug
Presumably that was just a Cape Gannet or something similar.
Simon Wates
Well-known member
Yes, a bit brash of me to call this a STE, can see it as CB now. Of course, they are often hanging in the wind a la STE. I must stop assuming photos show what things look like in the field because they are frequently and cunningly deceiving, much more so than field observation: If one looks at their sky borne raptors in the field, not on photos, the chances of confusing these two is nil (at least for me), even at 2kms or more. But then of course you have movement and changing lighting, which give many more clues than a still image.
I feel like a right plonker now B
and worse, I've watched many thousands of STE over the years.
I feel like a right plonker now B
and worse, I've watched many thousands of STE over the years.
Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
Yes, a bit brash of me to call this a STE, can see it as CB now. Of course, they are often hanging in the wind a la STE. I must stop assuming photos show what things look like in the field because they are frequently and cunningly deceiving, much more so than field observation: If one looks at their sky borne raptors in the field, not on photos, the chances of confusing these two is nil (at least for me), even at 2kms or more. But then of course you have movement and changing lighting, which give many more clues than a still image.
I feel like a right plonker now B
I think the most important is to get a conclusion all together, making a first wrong identification is not bad... it is even the best way to learn (and we never stop learning about birds).
BF worked well on that case,
:t:
PYRTLE
Old Berkshire Boy
Looks that way.
Go all round the houses and back to where we started - hovering raptor larger than a kestrel. Golden rule......start with the basic commoner species and then rule out why it isn't that.
This then takes us onto another scenario that you find this time of year which is,
"We're on * Scillies /Shetland etc, so it must be rare."
* can be applied to any site where rarities are regularly found or even when birding abroad when unfamiliar species or races are present.
Go all round the houses and back to where we started - hovering raptor larger than a kestrel. Golden rule......start with the basic commoner species and then rule out why it isn't that.
This then takes us onto another scenario that you find this time of year which is,
"We're on * Scillies /Shetland etc, so it must be rare."
* can be applied to any site where rarities are regularly found or even when birding abroad when unfamiliar species or races are present.
Taken from original post
'this bird was hovering, not like a kestrel, but holding its wings still and using the updraft of the prevailing wind it also appeared to be larger than a kestrel'
This suggests the bird was stalling in the wind rather than hovering, I have seen Booted Eagle doing this many times in Spain with as many as 10 in the air at once including dark and intermediate rufous morphs.
I only offered Booted up as an option as I only claim to have reasonable knowledge and skills. As no one else has suggested it and for my future reference can anyone give ID factors which dismissed this option or is range an issue
Thanks for any advice
Karl
'this bird was hovering, not like a kestrel, but holding its wings still and using the updraft of the prevailing wind it also appeared to be larger than a kestrel'
This suggests the bird was stalling in the wind rather than hovering, I have seen Booted Eagle doing this many times in Spain with as many as 10 in the air at once including dark and intermediate rufous morphs.
I only offered Booted up as an option as I only claim to have reasonable knowledge and skills. As no one else has suggested it and for my future reference can anyone give ID factors which dismissed this option or is range an issue
Thanks for any advice
Karl
PYRTLE
Old Berkshire Boy
Karl,
You're absolutely right in that the behaviour and range are fine for Booted eagle. What the photos don't show are,
The outline shape and pattern of the tail from underneath.
The plumage and wing pattern from underneath. "Landing lights" if seen head on in adult birds.
The other differences would be from observing the flying bird in the way it flaps, soars and glides. Although B.E. and C.B. are similar in size and overall structure, the differences are obvious when you get good views.
You're absolutely right in that the behaviour and range are fine for Booted eagle. What the photos don't show are,
The outline shape and pattern of the tail from underneath.
The plumage and wing pattern from underneath. "Landing lights" if seen head on in adult birds.
The other differences would be from observing the flying bird in the way it flaps, soars and glides. Although B.E. and C.B. are similar in size and overall structure, the differences are obvious when you get good views.
Thanks, from the photo I find it impossible to see any features that confirm any specific BOP. Even the forked tail v dangling feet discussions aren't conclusive. It's always better to have seen one and not know what is was than to not see one at all however frustrating. Off to Spain Sunday for 3 weeks so should see plenty
Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
Yes indeed, the contrasts (belly /vent) revealed when lightening the photo exclude STE. Booted Eagle and kites cannot have those plain upperwing coverts.
Valéry Schollaert
Respect animals, don't eat or wear their body or s
First step when you have an unknown raptor : compare the tail length with wing width at base. Very useful.
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